Who's Who: Color Kid

Color Kid
by Siskoid

Real Name: Ulu Vakk

Super-Power(s): Change the color of things
Planet of Origin: Lupra

Legion Seniority: Color Kid was the thirteenth recruit to join the Legion in the mostly-unchronicled era known as the Five-Year Gap.

Legion Log

Color Kid hails from Lupra, just a normal kid with a job in a scientific laboratory which had been conducting energy research. After clumsily stumbling through a beam of extradimensional light, he gained the power to affect the electromagnetic properties of any object, changing the wavelength and frequency at which it reflects light. In layman's terms, he was able to change an object's color. Obviously that meant he had to apply for Legion membership, but they rejected him. Some time later, he joined the Legion of Substitute Heroes.  Color Kid had originally been suggested by reader Jeff Greenberg in the letter columns of Adventure Comics #309.

For several years "The Subs" worked behind the scenes to assist the actual Legion until officially deputized as official "back-up" Legionnaires. During their nearly ten-year career, they fought such foes as the Khunds, the League of Super-Assassins, and Pulsar Stargrave, as well as Darkseid himself. During this time, Color Kid found new uses for his powers, like changing the properties of a kryptonite cloud from green to blue so it wouldn't affect Superboy and Supergirl, and illusion powers on a lower scale than those of Princess Projectra. He also proved useful in creating virtual darkness so Night Girl could operate regardless of time of day. After the Subs disbanded, he became an artist.

After Polar Boy became Legion leader in the so-called Five-Year Gap, Color Kid was finally asked to join,  but left only five months later when it became obvious that the Legion was unable to function effectively in the atmosphere that prevailed at that time. From there he joined the underground movement run by Jacques Foccart, the second Invisible Kid, where he fought the Dominion Occupation of Earth as an expert in disguise and distraction, using his powers to create light shows and blind opponents by rendering their corneas opaque. Along with the other former Subs, he helped with the efforts to resettle the survivors of Earth and train a new super-powered United Planets Militia Academy. Just before the end of that time line, they were called upon to help transport the pocket universe's Earth to the true universe, after which they disappeared as a result of Zero Hour.

After the Reboot, Color Kid tried to apply for Legion membership, but was unsuccessful. 

After the Threeboot, Color Kid does not seem to exist.

After Infinite Crisis, Color Kid's original history has been more or less been re-established. After Earth Man and his Justice League took over Earth, the Subs formed a resistance, but Color Kid was savagely blinded by Earth Man. Rainbow Girl has replaced him on the team.

Color Kid has had two appearances on the Legion of Super-Heroes animated series, voiced by James Arnold Taylor.

Important Color Kid Stories:

Adventure Comics #309

Color Kid is suggested by reader Jeff Greenberg

Adventure Comics #342

Color Kid makes his (brief) debut and is sent to the Subs

Adventure Comics #351

Color Kid has joined the Subs just in time to battle an amnesiac Supergirl

Adventure Comics #374

The Substitutes defeat the Taurus Gang

Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #243

The Substitutes fight the Khunds during Earthwar

 Superboy/Legion of Super-Heroes #254

The Substitutes defeat The League of Super-Assassins as Color Kid assists Night Girl's powers

Legion of Super-Heroes (v2) #294

The Substitutes help during The Great Darkness

DC Comics Presents #59

The Substitutes meet Ambush Bug

Legion of Substitute Heroes Special #1

The Substitutes help defeat Pulsar Stargrave; Color Kid spends some time as Color Queen

 

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #20

Five Years Later, Ulu returns to the book as a member of the Earth Resistance

 

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #26

Fire Lad and Color Kid have perfected their powers and team work
 

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #29

Color Kid finds Sun Boy in the Dominator cells
 

Legion of Super-Heroes (v4) #57

Color Kid is part of the United Planets security forces
 

Valor #22

Color Kid in the last days of his reality, before it collapses in Zero Hour

Legionnaires #43

After the Reboot, Color Kid unsuccessfully tries out for the Legion (cameo)

Action Comics #862

Color Kid revealed to have been blinded by Earth Man

 

Legion of Super-Heroes animated series

Color Kid was voiced by James Arnold Taylor